Mexico’s national football team ended a 40-year knockout-stage drought on June 30, 2026, defeating Ecuador 2-0 in the World Cup round of 32 at Estadio Azteca. The last such victory came against Bulgaria in 1986.
Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Raúl Jiménez added the insurance goal to seal the win. Ecuador’s challenge deepened when defender Piero Hincapié received a red card in the second half.
Mexico had suffered an eight-match knockout elimination streak, the longest in World Cup history. The team reversed that trend following a flawless group stage: three wins and zero goals conceded. The expanded 48-team tournament introduced a round of 32, allowing El Tri to build momentum with four consecutive wins without conceding.
Co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada provided a distinct home-field advantage. The iconic Estadio Azteca, elevation 7,200 feet, proved formidable for visiting opponents.